Buzz pollination

Buzz pollination or sonication is a technique used by some bees, such as the Bombus morio and many other bumble bees, to release pollen which is more or less firmly held by the anthers.[1] The anther of buzz-pollinated species of plants is typically tubular, with an opening at only one end, and the pollen inside is smooth-grained and firmly attached. With self-fertile plants such as tomatoes, wind may be sufficient to shake loose the pollen through pores in the anther and accomplish pollination. Visits by bees may also shake loose some pollen, but more efficient pollination of those plants is accomplished by a few insect species who specialize in sonication or buzz pollination.[2]

In order to release the pollen, bumblebees and some species of solitary bees are able to grab onto the flower and move their flight muscles rapidly, causing the flower and anthers to vibrate, dislodging pollen. This resonant vibration is called buzz pollination. The honeybee cannot perform buzz pollination.[2] About 8% of the flowers of the world are primarily pollinated using buzz pollination[citation needed].

Techniques for agricultural pollination of species normally requiring buzz pollination[edit]

Greenhouse grown tomatoes are unproductive without aid in pollination. Traditionally, pollination has been done by shaking using electric vibrators (one brand name was "Electric Bee"), however, it has been found to be less expensive in human labor and plant breakage to use bumblebees within the greenhouses. In Australia, as bumblebees are not native, and Australia has a number of widely publicised environmental disasters caused by escaped introduced species ("feral species"), research is under way to adapt the use of the Australian nativeAmegilla cingulata (blue banded bees) for the same task.[3] This research is, however, competing with lobbying by potential importers of bumblebees, who would rather use those, disregarding the risk and the potential for developing a "home grown" solution.[4]